Football Headline

Wednesday August 14, 2013Durkin Pleased at Youth Movement's Progress

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – You can’t blame him if once in a
while, first-year Gators defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin takes a look at last
year’s defense, grasps his chin as he studies the numbers, and then shakes his
head.

A lot of tackles, sacks and interceptions have left The
Swamp.

The Gators lost seven defensive starters from a unit that allowed
just 14.5 points per game (No. 5 in country), didn’t allow a run of more than
25 yards (only FBS team in country), and surrendered only seven touchdown
passes (second fewest in country).

For Florida’s defense to clamp down like it did in head
coach Will Muschamp’s first two seasons – the Gators ranked fifth nationally in
total defense in 2012 and eighth in 2011, one of five schools in top 10 both
seasons – a large group of newcomers and inexperienced players must turn
potential into production.

Maye was a standout safety/running back at Melbourne (Fla.)
Holy Trinity Episcopal who chose the Gators over offers from Alabama, Auburn,
Florida State and LSU. A physical player who is listed at 6-foot, 206 pounds,
Maye has stood out in practice.

“Marcus Maye has had an unbelievable camp,’’ Durkin said. “That
guy has the talent to be as good as anyone around. The strides he’s made from
the spring ‘till now have been great.”

Durkin reiterated what Muschamp said earlier in the week
about Maye, who sat and watched as Elam and Evans formed one of the nation’s
top safety tandems last season.

“He’s really come on and done some nice things for us,’’
Muschamp said. “We’re playing him at safety and when we go to six DBs, at the
time. He’s a guy that’s been very productive and playing athletically and
communicating.”

True freshman cornerback Vernon Hargreaves is another player
who has quickly caught Durkin’s attention. Hargreaves arrived from Tampa’s
Wharton High to high acclaim, named National Defensive Player of the Year by
the Touchdown Club of Columbus (Ohio) last season.

While the Gators have a talented pair of returning cornerbacks
in Loucheiz Purifoy and Marcus Roberson, Hargreaves has shown off his talent in
practice.

“Vernon's doing a great job. He'll be playing for us this
year,’’ Durkin said. “You see him out there and I can't say he's a pleasant
surprise to us, that was our plan with him going in, but he has lived up to the
expectations of him coming in here.

“We think he's a phenomenal player. He takes the game very
seriously, he understands the game, he learns defense well; he's a smart player
and a very talented player. So he'll be out there.”

Other true freshmen competing for playing time include
linebackers Alex Anzalone, Daniel McMillian and Jarrad Davis. Defensive back
Keanu Neal has made a good first impression, too.

“He plays fast and physical,” Durkin said of Neal, who is
from Bushnell (Fla.) South Sumter. “That guy has all the things you want a
safety to have. We’re thrilled to have him. He’s got to keep getting himself in
a position by the time we get through camp to where his mental mistakes are
down far enough where he’s ready to play.”

A 6-foot-1, 225-pound blend of size and speed, McMillian has
the tools to play on special teams and perhaps crack the rotation at
linebacker. He enrolled in January along with Anzalone and fellow linebacker
Matt Rolin, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice last week.

A former linebacker at Bowling Green, Durkin is pleased at
the way McMillian has developed since joining the program.

“D-Mac’s a guy that competes and loves football,’’ Durkin
said. “He’s in the film room all the time. He’s always trying to get better,
asking questions on the field, off the field. He really wants to be great. He
wants to contribute and he will.

“You mix that with the ability he has, you’ve got something
pretty special right there.”

Durkin also mentioned that junior safety Jabari Gorman is “having
the best camp he’s had since he’s been here.”

While the Gators lost a lost of talent from last year’s
defense, they could be deeper this season.

The veteran cornerback tandem of Purifoy and Roberson
provide the unit some flexibility as the younger players gain experience.

“I love having those corners out there,’’ Durkin said. “That
allows you to do a lot of things on defense, when you feel you can match up
outside and be OK. That allows us to do more things inside, whether it be
four-man pass rush or pressure a team or whatever it is. We feel real strong
about that.”